When do children become scared of the dark

A reassuring bedtime routine. Look under the bed. It takes an extra five minutes. Soothing distractions. Music, or one of those lights that projects images onto the ceiling, might be just the ticket, suggests Girvan. However you handle it, says Girvan, your own behaviour is a powerful cue to your child. What should I do? A: Fear of the dark is quite common, especially at this age. In order to understand why this is happening now and what you can do, consider where your child is developmentally.

In their minds, anything can happen at night: the dragon from the bedtime story or the clown from the party could suddenly appear out of the shadows to scare them. Next, think about any recent changes in his world. Has there been, for example, a separation from a loved one, a new baby, a new babysitter, a recent move?

Any change can cause a child to feel insecure and fearful. Registry Builder New. Is Your Toddler Afraid of the Dark? Getty Images. Why is my toddler suddenly afraid of the dark? Continue Reading Below.

More on Toddler Sleep. Toddler Safe Sleep Practices. Not anymore! Fears around being sick or injured pop up at this age for a few reasons, says Dr. Chansky: Not only is your child more aware of the world around him—he really took it all in when his friend flew off the tire swing and got a bloody lip—but his memory is developed enough to remember what it was like the last time he had a really bad cough and had to go to urgent care. Offer empathy plus an explanation.

That sends the message that his feelings are wrong and could actually stunt his ability to appropriately manage and respond to strong negative emotions in the future. Chansky suggests this exercise to try: Have your child draw four doors on some paper, and then draw a picture of one of his favorite things—a cupcake, Grandpa, Lego, the beach—in each.

Sudden Tragedies: Your child is becoming much more aware of the world around her, including weather reports, stories on the news, and sad historical events she learns about in school. Where is it? Not only are they cognitively advanced enough to grasp an abstract concept like death, but they may also have lost a family pet or a great-grandparent. Creepy Stuff: As smart and grown up as your kiddo may be, she still has a lot of imagination, and spiders, witches, and ghosts can make her mind wander.

Gather facts, together. If your kid tends to worry about bad weather, for example, spend a few minutes learning about storms. Then you can help her make a list of her specific fears on one side and what you've found out on the other.